The silver gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae) is the most Common Gull seen in Australia. It has been found throughout the continent, but particularly at or near coastal areas.
It is smaller than the pacific gull, which is also found in Australia.
The silver gull should not be confused with the herring gull, which is called "silver gull" in many other languages (scientific name Larus argentatus, German Silbermöwe, French Goéland argenté, Dutch zilvermeeuw), but is a much larger, robust gull with no overlap in range.
Distribution and habitat Silver gulls are found in all states of Australia. It is a common species, having adapted well to urban environments and thriving around shopping centres and garbage dumps.
Silver gulls have twice been recorded in the United States; one bird was shot in August 1947 at the mouth of the Genesee River, Lake Ontario, and another was photographed in Salem County, New Jersey, in autumn 1996. Both are now believed to have escaped from captivity.
Range map from www.oiseaux.net - Ornithological Portal Oiseaux.net
www.oiseaux.netis one of those MUST visit pages if you're in to bird watching. You can find just about everything there
Taxonomy The South African Hartlaub's gull (C. hartlaubii) was formerly sometimes considered to be subspecies of the silver gull. As is the case with many gulls, it has traditionally been placed in the genus Larus, but is now placed in the genus Chroicocephalus.
There are three subspecies:
• C. n. forsteri (Mathews, 1912) - north and northeast Australia, New Caledonia, Loyalty Islands
• C. n. novaehollandiae (Stephens, 1826) - southern Australia and Tasmania
• C. n. scopulinus (Forster, JR, 1844) - New Zealand (red-billed gull)
Description The head, body, and tail are white. The wings are light grey with white-spotted, black tips. Adults range from 40–45 cm in length.[3] Mean wingspan is 94 cm. Juveniles have brown patterns on their wings, and a dark beak. Adults have bright red beaks—the brighter the red, the older the bird.
Behaviour The silver gull has a sharp voice consisting of a variety of calls. The most common call is a harsh, high pitched 'kwarwh'.
Feeding
The silver gull naturally feeds on worms, fish, insects and crustaceans. It is a successful scavenger, allowing increased numbers near human settlements.
Breeding
Breeding occurs from August to December. The nest is located on the ground and consists of seaweed, roots, and plant stems. The nests may be found in low shrubs, rocks and jetties. Typical clutch size is one to three eggs.